DeMars recent slump is likely due to the fact Raptors are now only playing for a strong finish the kid really wants to make the playoffs I hope he isnt let down again next season, Lowry too.

You always have an excuse for DeRozan. Unbelievable.

Not sure where you've been the last 3 years but the fact is, DeRozan has always been like this where he'd tease the fans and play like an all-star one game and then he'll have 4-5 game stretch where you just ask yourself, why is this guy starting again?

Enough of all the excuses. Tired of it. DeRozan needs to bring it EVERY GAME period.

"Analytics DON'T work at all. It's some crap that people that are really smart made up to get in the game. Bunch of smart guys who have never played. The NBA is about TALENT" - Charles Barkley #Truth

DeMar and amir (Mostly Amir) is the reason the Raps havent been an absolute joe this season and the Gay trade with Ross winning the dunk off was a good one too.

I do agree with you though you cant take nights off regardless of record Raps gotta toughen up DeMar especially, I stand up for the guy cause when credit is due people dont give it. I never thought he was anything too special before but his improvements have been have been noted fair? He isnt a trash player like you make him out to be hes not Hedo.. lol

It's not a secret I'm not a big fan of demar, but I am certain his ceiling is average at best. reason is as follows.

is he explosive? no. Is he crafty? no. Does he have good instincts, where he just knows what to do quickly(feel)? no. does he have good lateral quickness? no. good shooter?no.

In my opinion, the only thing he has going for him is age and durability. It's great that he comes back better every year, but everyone is forgetting that he had very few skills coming into the league, I would argue that it is easy to show progress when you suck at everything. Very likeable guy, who puts up good stats, but overall doesn't have as big an impact on winning as I would like. He would be a great bench guy on a contender.

DeRozan and Gay combination rank 31st on the team in offensive rating, effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage (minimum five games played together) according to nba.com's stats tool. While the theory is that both can operate with more freedom because of the defensive attention the other one commands, that hasn't actually translated into a more efficient offense for the team thus far.

The best teams in the league design their rosters to maximize the strengths of their best players (it's why Gay was jettisoned from Memphis in the first place), but the Raptors have invested heaviest into players that seem to limit the effectiveness of one another

I honestly can't see a true impact player being acquired without including DeRozan. The only options without DeRozan would all have significant 'cons' associated with them (ie: Boozer & maybe Gasol - age, salary, injury concern, etc...). Also, I'd rather trade DeRozan before I traded Ross and/or future 1st round picks, but that's definitely debatable and dependent on the details of an offer.

I honestly can't see a true impact player being acquired without including DeRozan. The only options without DeRozan would all have significant 'cons' associated with them (ie: Boozer & maybe Gasol - age, salary, injury concern, etc...). Also, I'd rather trade DeRozan before I traded Ross and/or future 1st round picks, but that's definitely debatable and dependent on the details of an offer.

I'm certainly on board for trading DeRozan now, as long as the returning pieces actually addresses a hole in our roster, and or a receiving a significant talent.
Only reason why I wouldn't be hesitant, is if a trade happens, I do not want the bold, Boozer is an exception.

I'm all for trading Bargnani + DeRozan for Pau Gasol + pick (or some other asset). I've made this case before in a couple of threads and the idea was shot down by someone calling it "ridiculous beyond belief." But whatever, I'm still on that bandwagon for a few reasons.

Gasol - good post up player, good passer, has length, can mentor Valanciunas, previously worked with Scott Roth, has a mid range shot, not being used effectively in L.A.

You get rid of 2 inefficient players - more room for Terrence Ross' development (there's also Fields left)

I'll be sad to see DeMar go but realistically, Rudy and Demar do not compliment each other & it would be a bigger task getting rid of Gay & quite frankly, it won't happen for at least another year or 2 at the minimum

DeRozan back in L.A. - gives the Lakers another scorer & it probably won't hurt seeing and facing Kobe in practice every day

Massive expiring contract that can bail out the Raptors somewhat if all else fails (almost $20 M)

“I don’t create controversies. They’re there long before I open my mouth. I just bring them to your attention.”

It could very well be .... I just feel that Demar and Gay overlap each other & I'm not convinced Demar's defense will significantly improve. It's more of a cop out trade (eliminating long term salaries) for a massive expiring contract.

The year after Gasol expires, Rudy expires, Fields expires & voila, our cap situation is GONE. That's my prime motivation actually. I just don't believe in our team the way it's set up right now.

“I don’t create controversies. They’re there long before I open my mouth. I just bring them to your attention.”

Its actually a great idea. I'd rather have a bigman who can rebound and score down low for you. Than 2 dudes who essentially play the same type of game offensively. We also free up cap space which gives us more room to operate in Free agency and trades

A lot of people (myself included) were against the DeRozan extension this season, but Chisholm attempts to give Colangelo the benefit of the doubt suggesting that this summer's free agent market is a thin one, with a lot of teams hoping to cash in. Once the majority of these teams come away empty-handed, Colangelo could step in by offering DeRozan to seemingly desperate teams.

This is actually a strategy that Denver's Masai Ujiri - a former Colangelo disciple - has used to perfection on more than on occasion while improving his Nuggets squad. He inked Nene to a massive deal and dealt him for JaVale McGee a few months later. He gave Arron Afflalo a healthy new deal only to trade him as part of the package that got Andre Iguodala. Heck, more than a few pundits expect the Nuggets to go that route again after seeing the dollars they threw at McGee last summer. Denver has had great success using this method of asset management and Toronto could certainly stand to steal a page out of that play book.

Its actually a great idea. I'd rather have a bigman who can rebound and score down low for you. Than 2 dudes who essentially play the same type of game offensively. We also free up cap space which gives us more room to operate in Free agency and trades

and out on average 30 games a season is sniffing at retirement with bad legs.... Derozan is a good asset to trade I dont want him traded mind you but if he is we better get someone healthy and impactful to the team.

and out on average 30 games a season is sniffing at retirement with bad legs.... Derozan is a good asset to trade I dont want him traded mind you but if he is we better get someone healthy and impactful to the team.

Think of Gasol simply as a means of ridding ourselves of Bargnani, and as a means to obtain cap flexibility in 2014 (Gasol is a $19 million expiring contract).